Securing water supplies: “No country can achieve this on its own”
Heavy rainfall, tidal waves and drought: international researchers like Kaushal Chapagain from the ABDC-Centre are jointly developing water security solutions.
Extreme weather events and damaged ecosystems are posing a threat to the supply of water worldwide. At the Global Water and Climate Adaptation Centre (ABCD-Centre), an initiative of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), international researchers are developing solutions for dealing with too much or too little water. One of them is Kaushal Chapagain.
About Kaushal Chapagain
An environmental engineer, Kaushal Chapagain works for the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, one of the ABCD-Centre’s partner institutions. He focuses on water security and the interplay between water, energy and food.
Mr Chapagain, what are the primary tasks of the ABCD-Centre?
We seek responses to global water security challenges and focus on how to adapt to a changing climate. We believe that research, teaching and making knowledge available for practical applications is the best way to achieve this. For example, we stage workshops to bring researchers and government agencies together. They jointly come up with ideas for addressing local and regional challenges in areas such as urban water management, flood risk, drought preparedness or coastal protection. In our international Water Security and Global Change master’s programme, we train the water experts of tomorrow.
How can successful exchange between research and local policymakers and government be achieved?
New research findings urgently need to find their way into policymaking and practice! My favourite example is a workshop that was held in Cebu in the Philippines. The city struggles with typhoons and their consequences - such as flooding and disrupted water supply. In November 2025, government agencies, water suppliers, NGOs and researchers came together to take part in the workshop. Together, they developed an action plan. Among other things, it involves stepping up nature-based coastal protectionby restoring mangrove forests. In addition, a dedicated Department of Water Resources and a Water Regulatory Commission have been set up at the responsible ministry.
Why is a global perspective necessary when addressing local water problems?
Securing the supply of water and adapting to climate changeare global challenges that no country can overcome on its own. It is important to share experiences and ideas from as many different regions as possible with a view to adapting tried-and-tested solutions to regional circumstances. What is more, international networks are better able to make their voices heard in global debates.
What role in this context is played by cooperation with German universities?
The ABCD-Centre profits from the research expertise of TU Dresden and RWTH Aachen University, for example when it comes to flood modelling and urban water systems. There is intensive exchange between researchers and students from the Global South and Germany.
